Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hasn't yet been ruled out for Saturday's crucial matchup with the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium despite a sprained shoulder.

"I'm feeling fine," Hurts told reporters Tuesday. "We're keeping this business as usual."

He also said there is "definitely a chance" he'll take the field against Philadelphia's NFC East rivals.

On Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Hurts' status for the matchup was up in the air because of a sprained shoulder:

"It wasn't the first time I've been slow [to get up]. It won't be the last," Hurts told reporters regarding the play in which he was hurt. "I did play a really physical game, and it was real cold too. So happy we were able to find a win and in the end find a way."

While a victory would clinch the NFC East for the Eagles (13-1), a loss wouldn't be all that detrimental. The Eagles only need to win one more contest this season or have the Cowboys (10-4) lose one more game to guarantee a division crown.

Likewise, the Eagles currently have a two-game lead over the Minnesota Vikings (11-3) atop the NFC playoff picture and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Hurts, 24, is having a superb third season and is arguably neck-and-neck with Patrick Mahomes in the MVP conversation. Along with throwing for 3,472 yards, 22 touchdowns and just five interceptions, completing 67.3 percent of his passes, he's rushed for 747 yards and 13 scores.

If Hurts is sidelined, Gardner Minshew will step into the starting role for Philadelphia. He has thrown just four passes this season, completing two of them for 34 yards. He started two games for the Eagles in 2021, throwing for 439 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in four total appearances.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is dealing with a sprained shoulder that could jeopardize his status for a Week 16 clash against the Dallas Cowboys, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter added the team doesn't expect this to be a long-term issue for its starting signal-caller, though Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported he could be out for Philly's next two games.

John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia added that the injury is "not serious" and that Hurts is expected to be ready for the playoffs.

PhillyVoice.com's Jimmy Kempski initially reported Hurts underwent X-rays for an undisclosed injury following Sunday's 25-20 win over the Chicago Bears.

The Eagles handed Hurts the keys to the offense when they traded Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts. Hurts proceeded to guide Philadelphia into the playoffs, while Wentz's Week 18 performance helped cost Indianapolis a postseason berth.

In his first full season as the starter, Hurts threw for 3,144 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions and ran for 784 yards and 10 scores.

The 2020 second-round pick proved Philadelphia right in moving on from Wentz and looked like he might be a long-term solution at quarterback.

Hurts' performance in the Wild Card Round (23-of-43 for 258 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions) showed he still has some improvements to make, though, in order to take the next step up.

He appears to have done just that with 3,472 passing yards and 747 rushing yards through 14 games.

The Eagles acquired Gardner Minshew from the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 to serve as Hurts' backup, and he was pressed into duty twice a season ago.

Minshew has a clear ceiling, hence Jacksonville's decision to select Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, but the fourth-year signal-caller if needed is a solid stopgap who has performed well enough when given starting opportunities.

Playoff spots will be on the line during Week 16 of the NFL season.

The league released the various playoff-clinching scenarios for the upcoming slate Monday:

AFC

• Buffalo Bills: Clinch AFC East with win over Chicago Bears OR Miami Dolphins loss (to Green Bay Packers)
• Cincinnati Bengals: Clinch playoff berth with win over New England Patriots OR New York Jets loss (to Jacksonville Jaguars)
• Baltimore Ravens: Clinch playoff berth with either 1. win over Atlanta Falcons paired with losses by the Jets and Patriots OR 2. win over Falcons paired with losses by the Jets and Dolphins OR 3. win over Falcons paired with losses by the Patriots and Dolphins
• Los Angeles Chargers: Clinch playoff berth with win over Indianapolis Colts paired with losses by the Jets, Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders (to Pittsburgh Steelers)

NFC

• Philadelphia Eagles: Clinch NFC East and NFC's No. 1 seed with win over Dallas Cowboys
• New York Giants: Clinch playoff berth with either 1. win over Minnesota Vikings paired with losses by the Detroit Lions (to the Carolina Panthers) and Seattle Seahawks (to Kansas City Chiefs) OR 2. win over Vikings paired with losses by Lions and Washington Commanders (to San Francisco 49ers) OR 3. win over Vikings paired with losses by Seahawks and Commanders

There are a number of games with playoff implications that stand out, but the headliner is the showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.

It is a marquee matchup whenever these two rivals square off, and Philadelphia can send a message by clinching the top seed with a head-to-head victory. Fortunately for the Eagles, they will likely end up with the No. 1 seed even with a loss since they would still be two games ahead of the Cowboys and at least one game ahead of the Minnesota Vikings.

As if the rivalry and playoff stakes weren't enough, Cowboys pass-rusher Micah Parsons added another layer to this contest with comments he made during a discussion with Von Miller on The Voncast:

Parsons suggested Philadelphia's "system and team" is more responsible for Jalen Hurts' MVP candidacy than the quarterback's individual talents.

There is something to be said about Hurts benefiting from a strong offensive line while throwing to the likes of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but the comments will be framed as bulletin-board material for Hurts and the Eagles as they look to clinch a division crown.

And Parsons will be under plenty of pressure to perform well for a Cowboys team looking to bounce back from a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

While plenty of notable quarterbacks rarely shy away from showing their frustration on the sideline, the Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts looks to keep an even keel.

"I want those guys to look me in the eyes and know there's not a doubt," he said, per the Delaware News Journal's Martin Frank. "And to know that with the preparation we put in together that we'll find a way. I want them to have that trust in me."

That approach contrasts with Tom Brady's demeanor on the sideline. No tablet is safe when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trailing, and his teammates will hear about it if he doesn't think they're performing well enough:

The same goes for Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers, who isn't above throwing his teammates under the bus, either.

No two players are the same. While Brady and Rodgers' success speaks for itself, not every quarterback has to mirror their demeanor.

Hurts' more measured attitude is serving him well, too. The Eagles own the NFL's best record at 13-1, and their starting quarterback is a candidate for MVP with 3,472 passing yards and 22 touchdowns to go along with 747 yards and 13 scores on the ground.

The battle for NFL MVP is increasingly a two-player race.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts remains the odds-on favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook, coming in at -150 ($150 bet wins $100). Patrick Mahomes is in second place at +165, and no other player sits better than +1000.

NFL MVP Odds

1. Jalen Hurts (-150)
2. Patrick Mahomes (+165)
3. Josh Allen (+1000)
4. Joe Burrow (+1000)

The quarterbacks are the only players with odds lower than 100-1, so we can be reasonably certain one of these four stars will walk away with the trophy.

Hurts, Allen and Burrow would all be first-time MVP winners. Hurts has the Eagles at 13-1 as he's emerged as one of the most dynamic dual threats in football. He's thrown for 3,472 yards and 22 touchdowns against five interceptions while adding 747 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.

While Sunday's 25-20 win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field was by far not his best performance of the season, he came through with three rushing scores to keep Philly undefeated on the road.

Mahomes leads the NFL in passing yards (4,496), touchdowns (35) and QBR (79.8) to spearhead the Kansas City Chiefs' 11-3 record. He threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 30-24 overtime win over the Houston Texans in a near-flawless effort to clinch the AFC West for Kansas City.

Peter King of NBC Sports still gave Hurts the nod on his ballot but noted he would also be fine with Mahomes or Allen winning the award. Allen threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns while adding 77 yards on the ground to earn a 32-29 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Saturday in a Game of the Year candidate.

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Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts rewarded his offensive linemen with Louis Vuitton travel bags for the holidays:

Hurts has been an MVP candidate this season, leading the squad to a 12-1 record while totaling 22 passing touchdowns, 10 rushing touchdowns and just three interceptions. The offensive line has also been a key part of the success, clearing paths for the No. 2 rushing attack in the NFL.

Pro Football Focus ranks the Eagles as the No. 1 offensive line in football heading into Week 15.

The holiday gifts are a nice sign of appreciation from the quarterback, although it's not as though Hurts has that much excess money. The 2020 second-round pick is still on his rookie contract and ranks just 61st among NFL quarterbacks in total cash earned this season, per Spotrac.

Hurts' $1.64 million cap hit ranks 28th on the Eagles, behind each of the five starting offensive linemen Lane Johnson, Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata, Isaac Seumalo and Landon Dickerson.

The breakout season likely means Hurts will get a contract extension before too long, but in the meantime, maybe his teammates should be buying him gifts.

Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons doesn't believe he disrespected Jalen Hurts with his recent MVP remarks about the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback.

"I was just having a good conversation with Von [Miller], a person I look up to, helped him on his podcast and the next thing I know it's a...storm. Not once did I ever disrespect Hurts," Parsons told reporters Thursday. "I mean, you guys [media] get to talk—all day. Why can't we talk a little chatter?"

Still, he knows how the Eagles probably feel about him following his remarks to Miller.

"I'm pretty sure they hate me," Parsons said, via ESPN's Todd Archer.

During a recent appearance on Miller's The Voncast, Parsons questioned Hurts' MVP candidacy. He suggested that Philly's "system and team" are what has propelled the third-year quarterback to the top of the MVP debate.

Miller added that the Eagles have a "great offensive line, which helps Hurts" and noted that the Alabama and Oklahoma product has some of the best wide receivers in the game in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Miller said the numbers Hurts has put up this year make him "MVP-worthy," but he then brought up Patrick Mahomes before Parsons declared the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback this season's MVP.

In 13 games this season, Hurts has completed 68 percent of his passes for 3,157 yards and 22 touchdowns against three interceptions, in addition to rushing for 686 yards and 10 scores.

While Hurts is having a career year, this is also the first season he has had a complete, capable offense, which is certainly worth considering when discussing the MVP debate.

With the offense firing on all cylinders, the Eagles are atop the NFC—and the NFL—with a 12-1 record. They have already clinched a postseason berth and will be the team to beat come playoff time.

Mahomes, meanwhile, has completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 4,160 yards and 33 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, in addition to rushing for 280 yards and two scores. He arguably doesn't have as good of an offense to work with, but the Chiefs are still 10-3 and can clinch the AFC West with a win over the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Hurts responded to Parsons' comments while meeting with reporters Wednesday, noting that he's focused solely on the Chicago Bears, whom Philadelphia will face Sunday. A win at Soldier Field would only widen the Eagles' gap over the Cowboys (10-3) and the remainder of the NFC East.

The Eagles and Cowboys will meet at least one more time this season, and Parsons' remarks should make for a great matchup between the two on Christmas Eve.

Philly and Dallas last met on Oct. 16, when the Eagles beat the Cowboys 26-17.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts wasn't about to give Micah Parsons any bulletin-board material, even if that is exactly what the Dallas Cowboys pass-rusher did for him.

During a discussion with Von Miller on The Voncast, Parsons suggested Hurts is an MVP candidate more because of Philadelphia's "system and team" than his individual talents:

When asked for a response to Parsons' comments on Wednesday, Hurts told reporters, "I'm worried about the Bears," the Eagles' upcoming opponent in Week 15.

Offensive lineman Jordan Mailata echoed those sentiments:

After facing the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Hurts' Eagles will square off against Parsons' Cowboys on Christmas Eve in a game that could decide control of the NFC East.

The 12-1 Eagles are two games up on the 10-3 Cowboys, and they beat Dallas in Week 6, although the Cowboys were without quarterback Dak Prescott. The Cowboys will now be at home for this Christmas Eve clash against a motivated Hurts.

Although Hurts didn't publicly take exception to Parsons' comments, he surely internalized them ahead of the latest chapter in the rivalry.

The MVP candidate has completed 68 percent of his passes for 3,157 yards, 22 touchdowns and three interceptions while adding 686 yards and 10 scores on the ground in 13 games this season. He has taken tremendous strides after throwing for 22 touchdowns to 13 picks in his first two seasons and is a major reason why his team has the best record in the NFL.

Yet there is something to be said about the talent he has around him, which Parsons hinted at.

The offseason addition of wide receiver A.J. Brown has made everything easier for the offense. He is nearly impossible to stop with single coverage, and he opens up passing and running lanes for everyone else when he draws double-teams.

Playmakers such as DeVonta Smith and Miles Sanders are also dangerous, and defenses have to account for Hurts' legs as well.

Quarterbacks will always benefit from having more talent around them, but Parsons' comments will surely turn heads ahead of the Christmas Eve game.

Lovie Smith could wind up being one-and-done as Houston Texans head coach.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported Smith is currently on "shaky ground" amid the team's 1-11-1 start.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is reportedly among the names that would be atop Texans general manager Nick Caserio's list of candidates. Gannon interviewed for the position after the Texans fired David Culley last offseason.

Smith was a surprise hire given the fact he was the defensive coordinator for an underperforming Texans team last season. Promoting from within a staff of a fired head coach is always going to raise some eyebrows, especially so in this case because it was not a situation where Culley was fired midway through 2021 and Smith turned the team around as an interim coach.

Smith had previous experience coaching the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers but hadn't had success in a decade. Even his jaunt to the college ranks at Illinois featured five straight losing seasons and a 17-39 record.

All of which is to say it's perfectly understandable that the Texans might want to move on.

That said, the optics in this particular situation would be awful. During a period of time the NFL is being sued for discriminatory hiring practices, the Texans would be firing its second Black head coach in as many seasons after only giving him one year to turn things around.

Culley was thrust into a situation where he was taking over a 4-12 team that lost Deshaun Watson as he sat out the entire 2021 season amid sexual misconduct allegations. Houston still managed to win four games and played competitive football, but Caserio fired him anyway.

Smith was saddled with by far the NFL's worst roster—one seemingly designed to land the Texans the top pick in the 2023 draft—and the team has performed to its talent level.

While Gannon is one of the best assistant coaches in the NFL and deserving of a head-coaching job, the Texans would be opening themselves up to fair scrutiny by hiring a white coach precisely at the time the organization's fortunes could start turning around.